Imagine this: You’re heading home from dinner on I-95 when an Uber or Lyft slams into your car. You’re rushed to the hospital, you miss work, and physical therapy takes over your weeks. The big question becomes, who pays for your injuries after Uber & lyft accidents in Florida?

When a rideshare vehicle is involved, liability isn’t straightforward. Determining which insurance policy applies, and at what stage,  can make or break your claim. At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, P.A., our Palm Beach County injury lawyer handled rideshare injury cases across Palm Beach County. Here’s what every passenger, driver, and motorist should understand before speaking with an insurance adjuster.

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The Three Phases of Rideshare Insurance Coverage

Under Florida Statute §627.748, rideshare drivers (called “transportation network company drivers”) must carry specific levels of insurance that depend on their app status. These are often referred to as the three insurance phases:

Phase 1: App Off — Personal Coverage Only

If the Uber or Lyft app is off, the driver is not considered “on the clock.” In this case, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. Florida’s minimum required coverage for private drivers is often just $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability, per §627.736 and §324.021.

That means if you’re hit by a rideshare driver whose app is off, you’re dealing with the same limited coverage as any other private driver on the road. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may become critical here.

Phase 2: App On, Waiting for a Ride Request

Once the driver turns the app on but has not yet accepted a passenger, limited rideshare coverage kicks in:

  • $50,000 for bodily injury per person

  • $100,000 per accident

  • $25,000 for property damage

This coverage fills in after the driver’s personal policy, but it’s still not much, especially if your medical bills or lost wages are significant.

Phase 3: Ride Accepted or Passenger in the Car

This is where the big coverage applies. When the driver accepts a trip or has a passenger onboard, Uber and Lyft provide a $1 million liability policy, which includes:

This phase offers the best protection for victims, but even then, a million-dollar policy doesn’t guarantee a million-dollar payout.

In reality, those policy limits are reserved for catastrophic cases,  permanent disability, severe surgery, or wrongful death. For soft-tissue injuries or moderate collisions, insurance companies often offer far less.

men talking after Uber/Lyft accidents in Florida

The Hidden Complications After Uber & Lyft Accidents in Florida

Rideshare claims can quickly turn into a maze of finger-pointing and delay tactics. Here are some of the most common complications our firm sees:

1. Multiple Apps, Multiple Insurers

Many rideshare drivers work for both Uber and Lyft simultaneously. If both apps were open at the time of the crash, each insurer may claim the other was “active” — delaying responsibility. Only through a lawsuit and subpoena can your attorney obtain GPS data, timestamp logs, and trip histories to determine which app was in use.

2. Gaps in Coverage

Between the moment a ride is accepted and the actual passenger pickup, there’s often a gray zone. If an accident happens in that short window, insurers may dispute which policy applies.

Under §627.748(7)(c), coverage must apply “from the time the driver accepts a ride request until the passenger exits the vehicle,” but proving the exact timing requires access to the rideshare company’s internal records.

3. “Independent Contractor” Defense

Uber and Lyft consistently argue their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. This legal distinction allows them to avoid vicarious liability under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine.

However, skilled personal injury attorneys can still pursue claims under negligent hiring, retention, or supervision theories,  especially if the driver had a known history of reckless driving or prior accidents.

4. Delayed or Hidden Policy Disclosure

Insurers rarely disclose full policy details upfront. They may tell you only part of the coverage, hoping you’ll settle before realizing the extent of available insurance. Under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.280, your attorney can demand full disclosure once litigation begins.

Five Steps to Protect Your Claim After a Rideshare Accident

If you’ve been injured in an Uber, Lyft, or any rideshare vehicle, here’s what to do immediately:

1. Report the Crash in the App

Both Uber and Lyft have built-in reporting tools. This confirms your status as a passenger and creates an official timestamp for your claim.

2. Take Screenshots

Document the driver’s profile, license plate, and trip receipt in your app before it disappears. This data is crucial evidence that may later confirm which insurance policy applies.

3. Gather Evidence at the Scene

If safe, take photos or video of:

  • All vehicles involved

  • Road conditions and traffic signals

  • Visible injuries and damage

  • Names and contact info of witnesses

Even short cell phone footage can preserve facts that disappear once tow trucks arrive.

4. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Florida’s “14-day rule” (§627.736(1)(a)) requires you to seek medical care within 14 days of the crash to qualify for PIP benefits. Waiting too long can forfeit coverage — and make insurers question whether your injuries were really caused by the accident.

5. Call an Attorney Before the Insurance Adjuster

It is critical to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. The rideshare’s insurer may contact you with a “quick settlement offer.” It might sound good, a few thousand dollars upfront, but accepting before your treatment is complete can bar you from any future claims.

Insurance companies profit by paying as little as possible. Studies show that unrepresented claimants receive significantly lower settlements than those with attorneys experienced in rideshare cases.

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Beware of the Costly Mistake: Settling Too Soon

Florida law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (§95.11(4)(a)). But you shouldn’t wait that long to take action. Evidence, app data, and witness memories fade quickly, and early legal representation can uncover valuable details like trip logs, telematics, and communications between Uber, Lyft, and their drivers.

Once you sign a release and accept a settlement check, your case is closed; forever. Even if you later need surgery, you can’t reopen the claim. Always have your case evaluated before signing anything.

Why Experience Matters in Rideshare Injury Cases

Rideshare claims involve multiple insurers, shifting coverages, and tech-based evidence. Without a lawyer who understands both Florida personal injury law and rideshare policy structures, victims risk walking away with pennies on the dollar.

At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, P.A., our Palm Beach County injury attorney has been helping local accident victims for nearly 20 years,  from minor collisions to catastrophic injuries. We know how to cut through the corporate red tape and make sure you’re treated like a person, not a policy number.

If You’ve Been Hurt in Uber & Lyft Accidents in Florida, Call Us Today!

Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, you deserve to understand your rights. Don’t let Uber, Lyft, or their insurance partners pressure you into a low settlement.

Call (561) 671-5995 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation today. Let us handle the claim, while you focus on healing.

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